Insider's Japan
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Exclusive ISU departure – April 9-21, 2022 Insider’s Japan 13 days from $6,384 total price from Los Angeles ($5,995 air & land inclusive plus $389 airline taxes and fees) It’s a land of delicate art and bustling commerce, of rich traditions and dizzying modernity; a jumble of sights, sounds, and tastes that for visitors are truly foreign – and truly fascinating. This well-crafted tour features the highlights of Tokyo and Kyoto, engages us in local life, and takes us off the beaten path to the lovely historic cities of Takayama and Kanazawa. Sea of Japan Kanazawa JAPAN Takayama Tokyo Kyoto Hakone Osaka Hiroshima Destination Motorcoach Train Pacific Ocean Extension (train) A UNESCO site and “Special Place of Scenic Beauty,” beloved Mount Fuji has drawn visitors for centuries. Entry/Departure Avg. High (°F) Apr May Day 1: Depart U.S. for Tokyo, Japan Last, we visit the Tokyo National Museum, housing Tokyo 62 72 an extensive collection of art and antiquities from Kyoto 65 75 Day 2: Arrive Tokyo Upon arrival in Japan’s financial, Japan and other Asian countries. This afternoon is commercial, and political capital, we transfer to our free for independent exploration; lunch and dinner are hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary, we have no on our own in this city with endless dining options. B scheduled activities or meals planned. Your Small Group Tour Highlights Day 5: Tokyo/Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park/Hakone Day 3: Tokyo After a briefing about the journey ahead, Japan’s pastoral side is on tap as we leave Tokyo for Tokyo touring, including Imperial Palace District and Meiji we set out to discover a small part of this amazing city Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Here sits imposing Shrine • Stunning scenery of Mt. Fuji and Fuji-Hakone-Izu that covers a staggering 840 miles. Our sightseeing Mt. Fuji, a dormant volcano (it last erupted in 1707) National Park • Overnight stay in traditional ryokan • features the Meiji Shrine, a peaceful enclave of Shinto with a perfectly symmetrical cone that rises to 12,388 Takayama’s ancient streets and houses • Hands-on cooking temples and gardens. We also visit the gallery of pre- feet. We learn about environmental and conserva- class • Culturally rich Kanazawa • Tour of Kyoto, Japan’s eminent calligrapher Koshun Masunaga, where we tion efforts on the mountain at the Mt. Fuji World cultural capital • Traditional tea ceremony learn about this ancient art of artistic writing and Heritage Center then enjoy a relaxing cruise on Ashi browse the collection. Our tour ends in Ginza, Tokyo’s Lake, with Mt. Fuji in the background. Leaving the Day Itinerary Hotel Rating famed shopping, dining, and entertainment district, park, we travel to the town of Hakone, where we spend 1 Depart U.S. for Tokyo where we can stay to explore as we wish or return the night at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn where 2-4 Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo Deluxe to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, we we take off our shoes upon entering, enjoy a Japanese- 5 Hakone Hakone Setsugetsuka Not rated gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. B,D style Kaiseki dinner, and sleep on a futon. B,D (ryokan) 6-7 Takayama Hida Hotel Plaza First Class Day 4: Tokyo Our tour of Tokyo continues this morn- Day 6: Hakone/Takayama Today we travel first by 8-9 Kanazawa Hotel Nikko First Class Kanazawa ing at the Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and bullet train then by Wide View Hida express train ramparts and home of the Imperial Family. Here we to lovely Takayama in the Japanese Alps, considered 10-12 Kyoto The Thousand First Class Kyoto visit the East Gardens, part of the innermost circle of one of the country’s most attractive towns with its 16th- 13 Depart Kyoto for U.S. defense of the historic Edo Castle that once stood here. century castle and old-style buildings. Our explorations Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel We continue on to the Buddhist Asakusa Kannon, center on three narrow streets in the San-machi-suji industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too Tokyo’s oldest temple (c. 645 CE), and the adjacent district where, in feudal times, merchants lived amidst small, too new, or too remote to be listed. Nakamise shopping arcade, dating to the 17th century. the authentically preserved small inns, teahouses, and 24 Visit us at www.isualum.org/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour membership limited to 24 ISU alumni and friends sake breweries. This afternoon we attend a traditional TRAVELER’S HEART. NEVER Japanese tea ceremony here, an historic ritual of form, SEttLED LONG IN ONE PLACE.” grace, and spirituality. B,D – BASHO Day 7: Takayama We pay an early visit to the river- side Miyagawa Morning Market, a blaze of dazzling see Ishikawa Gate, the only remaining section of colors and foodstuffs. Here we meet a local chef to the town’s original castle; Hakukokan, a museum gather ingredients for the lunch we will prepare to- celebrating the art and craft of gold leaf technology; gether at a nearby site. After enjoying the fruits of and the Higashi Chayagai teahouse and geisha area. our labors, we embark on a walking tour, visiting Last, we visit the Kutani Kosen Kiln, where artists Takayama Jinya, an historic government house; the fashion the prized, highly decorated pottery. We local sake brewery; and Takayama’s old town, whose dine tonight at a local Japanese restaurant. B,D well-preserved buildings and homes date to the Edo Period (1600–1868). B,L Day 10: Kanazawa/Kyoto We depart this morning by train for Kyoto, formerly Japan’s Imperial Capital We Day 8: Takayama/Shirakawago/Kanazawa and now the country’s cultural and artistic center, with leave Takayama this morning for the UNESCO World more than 1,600 temples, hundreds of shrines, artful Heritage site of Shirakawago Gassho-zukuri Village. gardens, and historic architecture. Upon arrival, we Comprising buildings re located from authentic villages visit Kinkaku-ji, the beloved lakeside Temple of the nearby that were razed for a dam, the village is also Golden Pavilion set on pillars suspended over the water. a vibrant community whose residents work together Next: Ryoanji, a Zen Buddhist temple whose acclaimed to preserve the unique traditional architecture here dry garden epitomizes the simplicity of Zen meditation. known as Gassho style. Then we visit Gokayama We dine tonight at our hotel. B,D Village to see how traditional Japanese washi paper is made. Late this Day 11: Kyoto More of Kyoto is on tap today, begin- afternoon we reach ning with a visit to the otherworldly Arashiyama the castle town Bamboo Grove; the Kyoto Museum of Traditional of Kanazawa, an We visit Kyoto’s Temple of the Golden Pavilion on Day 10. Crafts (Fureaikan), showcasing all of Kyoto’s 74 alluring coastal city different métiers in one place; and Nijo-jo Castle (ca. that survived the 1603), the extravagant residence and fortifications of Tour Departs: April 9, 2022 ravages of World the shoguns who ruled Japan for more than 250 years. Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees War II. B,L Then the remainder of the day is free for independent Los Angeles $6,384 exploration in this traditional yet modern city. B Portland (OR), San Francisco, Day 9: Kanazawa $6,684 Today’s tour of this Seattle Day 12: Kyoto We continue our encounter with Kyoto culturally rich city Boston, Chicago, today, first at the important Fushimi Inari shrine, with features renowned Cleveland, Dallas, its trails straddled by red torii gates; Sanjyusangendo Kenrokuen Garden, Denver, Detroit, Houston, $6,884 Hall (ca. 1266), an important Buddhist temple hous- a national landmark Minneapolis, New York, ing 1,000 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon whose origins date Philadelphia, Phoenix deity; and Nishiki Market, “Kyoto’s Kitchen” of to 1676. We also Geishas in traditional dress restaurants, stores, and stalls selling everything food- Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, related. Then this afternoon is at leisure; tonight $6,984 Post-Tour Extension we toast our Japan adventure at a farewell dinner Miami, Orlando, at a local restaurant. B,D Tampa, Washington, DC April 21-23, 2022 Cedar Rapids, Des Moines $7,084 This morning we Hiroshima: City of Peace Day 13: Depart Kyoto for U.S. Land Only (transfers not included) $5,495 travel by motorcoach to Osaka, where we board our 3 days/2 nights for $1,095 total price Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person return flight to the United States. B Single Supplement: $155 based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, Discover the city reborn from the atomic surcharges, and fees of $389, which are subject to change des truction of World War II, now a modern and until final payment is made. cosmopolitan urban center whose residents Single travelers please add $1,595. Your $500 deposit is warmly welcome American visitors. Your Tour Price Includes fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2022 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities fees) are guaranteed. Your Tour Price Includes • 11 nights’ accommodations: 10 nights in Deluxe and First Class hotels; 1 night in traditional Japanese ryokan Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Pacific flight: • Rail transportation Kyoto/Hiroshima; Hiroshima/Osaka • 19 meals: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners $4,695 per person (upgrade is subject to availability and • 2 nights’ accommodations at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (First Class) • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees pricing is subject to change).